News: Historic Rotherham hotel sold

An historic hotel in a converted Grade II * listed building in Rotherham has been sold off an asking price of £8m.

The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell. It offers 89 stylish bedrooms including executive, deluxe and suite options, and attracts business travellers, couples and families alike. The hotel also boasts an award-winning restaurant, bar, and lounge, as well as luxurious wellness facilities including a swimming pool, spa and gym.

Hellaby Hall Hotel has an excellent reputation in the local area, and is situated within easy reach of Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster. The hotel is also a versatile venue and hosts weddings, celebrations, conferences and corporate functions.

The hotel was sold by the Lavin family, to focus on other business interests. They commented: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of the property and we are sure it will go from strength to strength under the control of its new owners.”

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The hotel was successfully sold to the Harrison family, who have extensive hotel experience and are looking to continue the success of the hotel. Mr Harrison commented: "The Harrison family are proud new owners of the business. We are planning to invest and support its continuous growth.”

David Lee, Regional Director – Hotels at Christie & Co who managed the sale, said: “We were delighted to assist our much-valued clients with the sale of this renowned, profitable hotel. The Lavin family have been excellent custodians of the hotel over the past few years, and we are sure the Harrison family will also enjoy success in running this fantastic full-service hotel business.”

Rothbiz reported in 2016 that Hellaby Hall was snapped up for £5.6m after its operators entered administration.

Hellaby Hall website

Images: Christie & Co

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News: HS2 to release details of further impacts of route

HS2 Ltd has scheduled two information events in Rotherham next month to share details of the evolving design for the £55.7 billion high speed railway.

They follow on from a series of information events that were held in September 2017 to discuss how the design for the route would be developed and the environmental impacts assessed.

In July 2017, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the preferred route for HS2 from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Leeds (known as Phase 2b).

Superseding a 2013 route with a station at Meadowhall, the option proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. These trains will also call at Chesterfield.

A fast route to Leeds would go through the East of Rotherham and would affect Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts. A new housing estate at Mexborough will also have to make way.

In June and July 2018, HS2 Ltd will be holding a number of information events, including at the Best Western Aston Hall Hotel in Rotherham on Tuesday June 5, 2pm to 8pm.

An event is scheduled for Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham on Tuesday June 12, also at 2 – 8pm.

The events are set to discuss the location of construction sites along the route, the infrastructure associated with the railway, and the realignment of major roads and public rights of way.

In Rotherham for example, work would be required around the A57 Aston Bypass and the major M1 motorway exit at Junction 31.

The proposal is for a 430m long, 27m high viaduct over a tributary of Pigeon Brook and the bypass before the route crosses Worksop Road approximately at grade. A bored tunnel here was discounted and HS2 previously said that "a cut-and-cover tunnel option could be considered in more detail during hybrid Bill development alongside further work to assess other potential mitigation options and highways realignments."

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The HS2 route also passes over the M1/M18 junction on a series of long, high embankments and viaducts. It would also run next to houses and commercial property at Bramley before crossing under the road at Junction 1 of the M18.

In HS2 Ltd's advice to Government published in July last year it stated regarding the Broadlands Estate in Bramley that it does not expect to have to demolish any property on the estate but admitted that "this is likely to change with ongoing design development, construction planning and environmental assessment. For example, demolitions resulting from ancillary works, mitigation and realignment of existing infrastructure (such as roads and railways) are not included at this stage."

HS2 Ltd stressed that "the new information we are sharing is work in progress and may change as we continue to refine the design, complete environmental assessments and take into consideration further feedback."

Sir Kevin Barron, the MP for Rother Valley, has criticised HS2 and the Government over its use of "wobbly data" which needed to be corrected and has withdrawn his support for the project.

Paul Griffiths, Phase Two director at HS2, said: "The benefits that HS2 will deliver are significant and should not be underestimated. The new railway will play a crucial role in rebalancing Britain's economy; driving business growth, creating jobs and securing investment right across the country.

"Understandably, people have questions and concerns about the construction and operation of the railway, and how it will affect them. These events present an ideal opportunity to talk to us about the project and find out more information."

Main civils design work on the Phase 2b route to Manchester and Leeds is set to start in late 2022, and main civils construction works are expected to commence in 2024. The first passengers are not expected to travel on full HS2 services until 2033.

HS2 Ltd website

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News: Hellaby Hall hopes for wedded bliss

The new owners of the historic Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham have identified the marquee to success and are planning to boost business by tripling the number of weddings that it can host.

The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell and is a popular location for weddings, functions and business. It also includes conference facilities, a restaurant and health & leisure club with two gyms, a swimming pool and health spa.

The Grade II * listed building was put on the market after its operators entered administration last year. Keeping operations open, the administrators took on the management of the affairs, business and property of the companies and appointed Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd to manage the day to day affairs of the hotels as their disclosed agent.

At the start of 2016, it was announced that it had sold for around £5.6m to the owners of Aston Hall Hotel. The Lavin family acquired the historic Aston Hall Hotel in similar circumstances in 2012.

Now the owners have submitted a planning application that outlines the plans for investment in a bid to increase turnover.

Having already commenced a programme of upgrading and refurbishment, approval has also been obtained to bring the hotel into the Best Western group within the next few months, bringing it alongside Aston Hall.

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Also mirroring Aston Hall, the plans involve the siting of a marquee to the west of the site, on land owned by the hotel, to provide the ability to run two weddings on the same day. It is envisaged that a wedding party using this location and adjacent main building facilities could be kept completely separate from any event in the existing main ballroom. It would also allow a choice of a conventional function room or marquee wedding at the hotel.

Andrew Lavin, owner of the hotel, said in the plans: "This is a very substantial hotel with 89 bedrooms and extensive conference and banqueting facilities. However, there is only one large ballroom and therefore only one potential wedding resource on the site. The ability to run two weddings on the same day at this venue will be of very considerable benefit to the venue, allowing continued and increased investment in the property, and the resultant increased turnover will have a proportionate impact on the number of persons employed by the company.

"Hellaby Hall Hotel has enormous potential as wedding venue, but due to the lack of investment a relatively low number of weddings have taken place. The hotel's business plan envisages an increase from 30 to 50 weddings per year in the existing ballroom within three years but with a marquee added to the facility the long term potential is well over 100 weddings annually in total. This is in line with what is currently achieved at Aston Hall.

"As a result, a marquee would make a very significant contribution towards ensuring the long term stability and success of the hotel. 50 marquee weddings annually would contribute approximately £300,000 to the hotel's turnover, and it is anticipated that other marquee events would be likely to contribute a further £50,000. Once these levels of revenue were achieved the hotel payroll would increase by £120,000, including an increase in sales and support staff, creating valuable extra employment in the area."

Hellaby Hall Hotel website

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News: Hellaby Hall Hotel sold

The historic Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham, the Grade II * listed building that was put on the market after its operators entered administration, has sold for around £5.6m to the owners of Aston Hall Hotel.

The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell and is a popular location for weddings, functions and business. It also includes conference facilities, a restaurant and health & leisure club with two gyms, a swimming pool and health spa.

In May, Prima Hotels was one of a number of connected companies and hotels to call in Ryan Grant, Lee Causer and Catherine Williamson, of AlixPartners Services UK LLP.

Keeping operations open, the administrators took on the management of the affairs, business and property of the companies and appointed Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd to manage the day to day affairs of the hotels as their disclosed agent.

It was agreed that the values would be maximised by selling the properties as operating hotels.

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As reported by Rothbiz in December, international real estate advisor Savills, was close to securing a deal for the individual properties.

Now a deal has been confirmed from a guide price of £5.6m to the newly renamed Hellaby Hall Hotel Limited. The company shares directors with the company that acquired the historic Aston Hall Hotel in Rotherham in similar circumstances in 2012. The Lavin family previously had a portfolio of two hotels in Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Tom Cunningham, hotels director at Savills, said: "This picturesque hotel provides multiple income streams and has a strong trading record based on its popularity with both corporate and leisure guests. As such, we received high levels of market interest and were able to complete the sale process within just four months."

A spokesperson for the new operators of Hellaby Hall Hotel added: "The new team are proposing a well deserved investment into all areas of the hotel."

The administrators reported that with a management company brought in to run the operations, all employees based at the hotels were retained and are expected to transfer to the prospective new owners of the properties.

Operating a "business as usual" approach, continuing to trade and take bookings for rooms, events and conferences, all deposits paid before Prima entered into administration have been honoured and the hotels maintained substantially all of the pre-appointment bookings. The core of the business continued to trade profitably.

Hellaby Hall Hotel website

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News: Buyer found for Hellaby Hall Hotel

A buyer could wrap up a deal for the historic Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham by the end of the year. The Grade II * listed building was put on the market after its operators entered administration.

The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell and is a popular location for weddings, functions and business. It also includes conference facilities, a restaurant and health & leisure club with two gyms, a swimming pool and health spa.

In May, Prima Hotels was one of a number of connected companies and hotels to call in Ryan Grant, Lee Causer and Catherine Williamson, of AlixPartners Services UK LLP.

Keeping operations open, the administrators took on the management of the affairs, business and property of the companies and appointed Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd to manage the day to day affairs of the hotels as their disclosed agent.

It was agreed that the values would be maximised by selling the properties as operating hotels.
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In September, leading property agents, Savills began marketing of the portfolio that comprises four trading hotel properties, for sale and invited offers in excess of £18m. The four properties were also made available as individual assets.

An update from the administrators shows that interest was high, with 78 non-disclosure agreements signed, 29 formal viewings arranged and a significant number of non-formal viewings also taking place. Four offers were made for the full, four property portfolio, and 14 offers were made on the individual hotels.

The administrators state: "The offers received were reviewed by the administrators and Savills. After further negotiations with leading parties, Savills recommended the acceptance of four separate offers on the basis that these combined sales would maximise realisations. These offers have now been accepted and all parties are conducting further due diligence, with a view to all disposals completing by December 31."

With a management company brought in to run the operations, all employees based at the hotels were retained and are expected to transfer to the prospective new owners of the properties.

Operating a "business as usual" approach, continuing to trade and take bookings for rooms, events and conferences, all deposits paid before Prima entered into administration have been honoured and the hotels maintained substantially all of the pre-appointment bookings. The core of the business continued to trade profitably.

Administrators admitted that even with the successful sale, the major creditor, the AIB bank, is unlikely to see all of the £24m it is owed. The group of companies had debts of £36m when it entered administration.

Hellaby Hall Hotel website

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News: Hellaby Hall Hotel up for sale

Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham has hit the market as part of a portfolio of properties whose owners went into administration.

In May, Prima Hotels was one of a number of connected companies and hotels to call in Ryan Grant, Lee Causer and Catherine Williamson, of AlixPartners Services UK LLP. Keeping operations open, the administrators took on the management of the affairs, business and property of the companies and appointed Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd to manage the day to day affairs of the hotels as their disclosed agent.

Now leading property agents, Savills are marketing the portfolio, comprising four trading hotel properties, for sale and inviting offers in excess of £18m. The four properties are also available as individual assets.

Martin Rogers, director of regional hotel transactions at Savills, said: "This portfolio of regional country house hotels provides a diverse mix of bedroom, dining, conferencing, health and leisure facilities. Each is well established within its market and has a strong trading record, making them an excellent investment as either a portfolio or individual assets."

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The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell, who made his fortune planting sugar in Barbados. The Grade II * listed building is a popular location for weddings, functions and business. It also includes conference facilities, a restaurant and health & leisure club with two gyms, a swimming pool and health spa.

The property had been fire-damaged before being purchased by Whiteley Geddes Developments and a £4.5m renovation project was completed in 1992.

The property was sold by Paramount Hotels in 2001 for a reported £4m to businessmen Gerard and Carl Hanratty, of Ireland, who subsequently went into partnership with Liam Walshe's Prima Hotels.

Prima and its group of companies was restructured in 2012 after a fall in revenue and funds were provided from the bank, AIB. In December 2014, the group identified a further requirement for funding as result of a delayed hotel refurbishment and an unsuccessful legal claim. After approaching the bank again in January 2015, administrators were called in to assess the long term options for the group. AIB is owed some £24m by the group.

The value of the hotels is set to be maximised by selling them as operational and the administrators have already been approached by a significant number of external third parties expressing an interest in one or more of the hotels.

Whilst head office staff have gone, all employees based at the hotels have been retained and the administrator is not anticipating further redundancies.

Hellaby Hall Hotel website
Savills website



Images: Prima Hotels

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News: Hellaby Hall operators in administration

Prima Hotels, the operator of Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham, has called in the administrators.

The 4 star hotel at Bramley includes 89 rooms in the converted 17th century house of Ralph Fretwell, who made his fortune planting sugar in Barbados. The Grade II * listed building is a popular location for weddings, functions and business. It also includes a gym and spa and a fine dining restaurant that recently won a AA rosette for culinary excellence for the first time in the hotel's history.

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Prima Hotels is one of a number of connected companies and hotels to call in Ryan Grant, Lee Causer and Catherine Williamson, of AlixPartners Services UK LLP on May 7. The administrators have taken on the management of the affairs, business and property of the companies and have already appointed Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd to manage the day to day affairs of the hotels as their disclosed agent.

The joint administrators said that they will continue to trade the hotels while exploring all options and that they intend to honour all bookings.

Ryan Grant, joint administrator from AlixPartners, said: "We will continue to trade the hotels on a "business as usual" basis and intend to honour all bookings made prior to our appointment.

"We believe the businesses are attractive to a range of potential buyers and welcome expressions of interest from third parties to acquire any or all of the sites.

"We would also like to thank the staff for their continued support and professionalism during this process."

The property had been fire-damaged before being purchased by Whiteley Geddes Developments and a £4.5m renovation project was completed in 1992.

The property was sold by Paramount Hotels in 2001 for a reported £4m to businessmen Gerard and Carl Hanratty, of Ireland, who subsequently went into partnership with Liam Walshe's Prima Hotels.

3.5 acres (1.42 hectares) of the hotel site has been up for sale as a prominent development site fronting Bawtry Road.

Hellaby Hall website

Images: Prima Hotels

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News: Exporting Business Advice Event in Rotherham

A free event on successful exporting is taking place at Hellaby Hall Hotel in Rotherham on February 5th. Organised by the South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), local businesses will be able to meet the export experts to gain information on the Passport to Export scheme for new exporters, market research, legal advice, language and cultural barriers, export finance and HM Revenue and Customs.

SYITC flyer

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News: Rebranding for Rotherham based firm

Rotherham based Solaglas Windowcare has rebranded to bring itself closer to its parent company, the international industrial group Saint-Gobain. The French-owned subsidiary was acquired in 2002 and has seen year on year growth since then. The £21m turnover specialist glazing company employs 400 staff at their head office and factory in Hellaby.
Sologlas website
The Business Desk article

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News: Rotherham hotel boss set to leave

The manager of one of Rotherham's best hotels is set to leave his role at Hellaby Hall. A prominant figure in the Rotherham business scene, John Silker is set to become president of the Chamber of Commerce (Barnsley and Rotherham) this year. The hotel is set for £1m of improvements.
Hellaby Hall website
Rotherham Record article

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